Where is Middlesbrough?

Middlesbrough is right in the 'middle' of the Tees Valley. It's at the heart of everything - roads, rivers, countryside and between two of the North's greatest historic destinations, Durham and Whitby.

Shops, restaurants and nightlife

Shops, restaurants and nightlife are a go go in Middlesbrough. It's the Tees Valley's High Street capital. Home-grown designer department store Psyche regularly rubs shoulders with the likes of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, having won awards such as the number one store in the FHM 100 Doors awards and Drapers' Independent Retailer of the Year.

New developments

The word on everyone's lips is regeneration. This year saw the opening of Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima), an impressive £19 million gallery for contemporary visual art designed by top architect Erick van Egeraat. The old dockland, Middlehaven, is set for a £500 million transformation into a bustling waterfront attraction with bottle-shaped hotels and the Stockton-Middlesbrough Initiative is a 20 year programme that will merge Middlesbrough with Stockton to form a 'green-hearted' new age city. Watch this space!

Events, arts and culture

A lively events programme and Middlesbrough's emerging cultural renaissance reflect the town's ongoing passion for live entertainment, art and music. Middlesbrough's popular rolling events calendar includes a town-wide live music extravaganza, Asian Mela, Christmas fair, traditional country shows and international animation festival.

Visitor attractions

If you're new to the area, start off with the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. It celebrates the life of the town's most famous descendant and is set in the locally-loved green surroundings of Stewart Park. Nature's World, the Dorman Museum and Transporter Bridge are also worth a visit, especially if the kids are in tow.

The Parmo

Food wise, Middlesbrough's probably famous for one thing; the parmo! No, not the Italian Parmesan exactly, but Middlesbrough's own take-away version of it deep-fried in breadcrumbs and topped with Bechamel Sauce. It's a not to be missed fast food legend; look out for it on most town menus.

Surrounding countryside

Middlesbrough isn't all bustle and built up town. It's right next to the North Yorkshire Moors, the Cleveland Way and one of the North East's most famous landmarks, Roseberry Topping, is in the Middlesbrough district. Roseberry Topping's 360 degree views are so spectacular that the Vikings originally named it after their God Odin (not a pudding or dessert).

Sport!

It's impossible to talk about Middlesbrough without mentioning football and sport. Premier League Middlesbrough Football Club is supported by thousands of devoted fans, including its Middlesbrough-born owner and entrepreneur, Steve Gibson. The latest craze sweeping the town isn't so home-grown; Prissick Skate Plaza, opened in 2005, is based on skating and boarding sites in Philadelphia and Barcelona.

Industrial heritage

Middlesbrough was a major force in the industrial period, growing faster than any other place in the UK. Half the world has been constructed with iron and steel mined from Middlesbrough's hills including Victoria Falls and the Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong. Look out for the 'Made In Middlesbrough' stamp on the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Bladerunner country

Forget all your preconceptions of industry; you won't see a skyline like this anywhere else. "Teesside Lights", Middlesbrough's industrial landscape, is an extraordinary man made sight. In fact it was the inspiration for Ridley Scott's Bladerunner, who was born in nearby North Shields.

The future

Middlesbrough is ambitious about the future, particularly green energy and digital technology. The University of Teesside and local businesses have established a world-wide reputation for digital innovation and animation wizzardry. The town hosts an international animation festival that has attracted big names in the past such as the legendary Ray Harryhausen and Simpsons producers and one of Middlesbrough's famous residents is Bob the Builder's creator Curtis Jobling.